The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-20
Commencement Exercises, Univer-
slty of Mississippi.

For several weeks the town of Oxford
had been preparing itself for It's annual
event, by taking unto itself an extra
supply of visitors and dust. All looked
| forward to the features of commence
ment-the sermon, the annual debate,
declamations, Hon. Frank Hurd's ora
ton, the Alumni banquet, and other
attractions.
HERAEAN-FREsHMAN PRIZE DECLAMA-
TON.
$50 p. m, Friday. Judges in this
contest were: Professors Hoge, Hutson,
and J. w. johnson, Mr.. A. G.. Smith
and Rev. DR.. Palmer. First, :. P.
McMinn, of Pamela county, spoke
Famine in Ireland, with great feeling
and pathos. J. P Hamer, Jr., of Mont
gomery county, gave Grady's toast,
"The New South" with clear, distinct
voice. l.. NJ. Burge, of Prentiss county,
recited "McClain's Child" with fine
conception. j. L. Alcorn, Jr., of Goa
homa county, delivered ''The Fireman's
Prayer" with dramatic power. w. F.
Ashley, of Holmes county, recited
Asleep at the Switch" very we'll. j..
l.. Sykes, of Monroe county, told US
"How the Old Horse Won the Bet" il
natural, animated manner. -. 7.
johnson, of Lafayette, recited the
Legend cf Van Bibber's Rock" in such
mastery manner that this, in connec-
tion with his juvenile appearance, took
the house by storm. J. NJ. Kyle, of
Pamela, delivered the LAY of Ancient
Rome" in a round, powerful voice
The decision of the audience was almost
unanimous in favor of johnson for first,
but the second medal was divided
between Alcorn, McMinn and Kyle.
PHI sIGBIA-FREsHMAN PRIZE DECLAMA-
TIoN.
$50 p. M, Saturday. The judges
were: Professors Switzer, Fulton, Hut
son, j. w. johnson and Judge Kim
brough. First, I. L. Ross, of Oxford,
Replied to Charge of Treason" in
fierce, gutteral tones, we'll suited to
Grattan's fiery invective. L. Ii. Lip
sey, of Coldwater, described the death
Bed of Benedict Arnold" in very
realistic manner. j. l.. Moyse, of Sum
nit, told us of the Black Horse and
His Rider" at the battle of Saratoga, a
fine piece but getting to be a chesnut.
F. V. Holmes, of Memphis, delivered
that splendid recitation Karl the Mar
tyr" in magnificent style. G. G. May.
son, of Columbia, spoke the Landing
of the Pilgrims" with too much ease
and deliberation. F. G. Holmes, of
Plum Point, recited the Legend of
Van Bibber's Rock" with dramatic
power and feeling. B. F. Jones, of
fernando, delivered "The New South" !"
in an able manner. ]. A. Franklin, of
Hot Springs, Ark, rendered the highly
dramatic piece "Lasca," with clear-eut
enunciation. The youthful Chas. Bas-
kerville, of Columbus, delivered the
"Charge of the Light Brigade" i'll such
style as showed practice and training.
Archie Peteet, of Carrollton, recited a
LAY of Ancient Rome," and his strong,
deep tones went ringing down the sound
ing lines of Lytton. Walter Phillips,
of Lexington, being unwell, did not
speak. Last, and as usual, not least,
came upon the stage amid deafening
cheers, the inimitable Benjamin Frank
lin Toler, of Kosciusko, and delivered
an able 'Ealogy on Lafayette" " in his
own peculiar, happy style. The opinion
of the house was much divided that
night. Most thought the two medals
would be between Ross, F. Y. Holmes,
Franklin and Peteet, but before Monday
night, when the Freshman prizes were
to be awarded, Madam Rumor had
pretty definitely settled upon johnson
and Alcorn, for Herm@an's, and Peteet
and Franklin for Phi Signals. She was
right with the exception that Ross got
Phi Signals first medal, instead of
Peteet.